Grenier's lawyer argued for a 5 year ban, but Judge Moar stood fast,
stating leniency was not reasonable in such an extreme case and it was
important that his decision "sends a message to all pig producers."

On June 3, 2011, nearly one year after Martin Grenier's Notre Dame de
Lourdes pig barn was raided by RCMP and the grisly discovery of over 2,700
pigs who were forced to cannibalize one another as food, water and even
ventilation was cut off was made, Martin Grenier pled guilty and received a
$60,000 fine and lifetime ban on ownership of livestock.

Grenier's lawyer argued for a 5 year ban, but Judge Moar stood fast,
stating leniency was not reasonable in such an extreme case and it was
important that his decision "sends a message to all pig producers."

Like you, we have mixed feelings about the verdict. The $60,000 fine is
disproportionately low given the scale, severity, and duration of the pigs'
suffering. But the lifetime ban on livestock ownership is a relief. (This
relief is tempered with the knowledge that the Greniers could simply shift
the farm into Delores Grenier's name and resume operations, but we can
assure you, we'll be keeping tabs on the couple.)

One thing we know for certain is that the pressure leveraged by your
letters to the editor, comments on media coverage and personal letters to
the Manitoba Ministers of Justice and Agriculture ensured the province gave
the case the serious consideration it deserved, and most certainly played a
role in the sentencing of a lifetime ban on owning livestock.

While the Grenier case was extreme in scale, the practice of leaving pigs
without food, water, medical treatment or even straw to lie on is a common
one. This is the fate of many pigs who are too sick, diseased or injured to
stand. Producers move these pigs to a "sick" or "suspect" pen and leave them
there until they starve to death. Our investigators have found such
suffering animals in almost every pig barn we've inspected. Leaving these
highly intelligent and sensitive animals to suffer is just as criminal as
what Martin Grenier did. It is our hope that today's verdict gives all pig
producers cause for thought and encourages them to improve practices in
their own operations.

In addition to providing treatment for these sick animals, the Manitoba
pig industry could prove their claim of care for their animals by phasing
out and banning the use of gestation crates for sows (barren metal crates
that confine female pigs for their adult lives in a space so small they
cannot turn around). There are 318,000 sows in Manitoba, the vast majority
of whom are confined to these tiny, cruel crates. We've joined forces with
the Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals and launched a campaign calling for
a ban on the unnecessary stalls.

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